King Charles' staff have to change 1,000 clocks in all royal residences twice a year
Staff at the royal residences have a big task ahead of them this weekend
As households across the UK prepare to spring forward this weekend for British Summer Time, King Charles‘ royal residences are undergoing a clock change operation of epic proportions.
While most of us simply change the time on a couple of devices, the royal household must adjust more than 1,000 timepieces spread across multiple properties – a task that takes over 40 hours to complete and begins at 2am on Sunday morning.
King Charles’ palace staff must change over 1,000 clocks
The scale of the operation is staggering. Windsor Castle contains approximately 450 clocks, Buckingham Palace has around 600, and the Palace of Holyroodhouse in Scotland houses another 50.
Each timepiece must be manually adjusted by specialist staff. Given the complexity and care involved, it’s not uncommon for some clocks to still be showing the wrong time by Monday.
The operation is led by the Royal Collection’s horological conservator. Their job is not only to maintain and restore the clocks but also to make sure they keep ticking in time with the rest of the nation.
King Charles’ love of clocks
King Charles’ deep love of clocks is no secret. His collection includes a dazzling variety: musical clocks, astronomical clocks, turret clocks, miniature timepieces, and more.
The monarch has even revealed that the kitchen clocks in royal residences are set slightly ahead. This subtle but effective trick ensures that meals are never late.
“To me, I just love the sound of a tick-tock,” Charles said during a special episode of The Repair Shop in 2022. “But also, if they chime. That’s why I love grandfather clocks. I find it rather reassuring in a funny way. They become really special parts of the house – as you were, the beating heart of it.”
During the episode, Charles asked Jay Blades and horologist Steve Fletcher to repair an 18th-century bracket piece that held sentimental value.
He also shared a sweet memory of his late grandmother, the Queen Mother.
“She had great fun putting a few [clocks] together and trying to get them to chime at the same time in the dining room,” Charles recalled fondly. “Everybody had to stop talking. All the clocks and cuckoos would go off, and then you’d hear a voice saying, ‘What time is it?'”
The royal household’s commitment to the semi-annual clock change is more than just routine. It’s a nod to tradition, craftsmanship, and the king’s personal affection for horology.
Even in an age of smartphones and smartwatches, the royal family remains loyal to the elegance of classic timekeeping. King Charles, it seems, wouldn’t have it any other way.
“It took me a long time to realise there is one [clock] at Clarence House that plays the national anthem,” the king confessed during The Repair Shop episode. “It took me a long time to realise it was.”
Read more: King Charles and Princess Anne’s ‘special moment’ together demonstrates close sibling bond
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